Hope grows that player boycott can be shortlived

USA Hockey, U.S. women's team optimistic after bargaining session

Team USA forwards Alex Carpenter (left) and Hilary Knight celebrate a goal during the 2014 Sochi Olympics. Both players were on the roster announced earlier this month by USA Hockey for the 2017 IIHF World Championships in Plymouth.(Photo11: Winslow Townson | USA TODAY SPORTS)

It’s still anybody’s guess as to whether actual members of the U.S. Women’s National Hockey Team or replacement players will skate onto the USA Hockey Arena ice March 31 during the upcoming World Championships.

But a promising round of negotiations in Philadelphia Monday between USA Hockey officials and a contingent of women’s players and their lawyers at least show a ray of sunshine on what was a completely gloomy forecast.

“We’re excited about the discussions that took place yesterday, very positive progress made on both sides,” said Dave Fischer, senior director of communications for USA Hockey. “Both sides are working hard to get to a resolution that leads to the players that we selected previously to compete as the U.S. Women’s National Team in the world championships, that they’re the ones on the ice in Plymouth come March 31.”

On the final day of March, defending tournament champion Team USA is scheduled to face Canada in a preliminary round game (7:30 p.m. puck drop) with a game 3:30 p.m. Saturday, April 1 against Russia to follow.

The boycott of the 2017 International Ice Hockey Federation Women’s World Championships, which continue through April 7 and include eight countries, reportedly stems from players’ frustration over lagging financial compensation from governing body USA Hockey — especially compared to what men receive — for non-Olympic years.

According to an article Tuesday in USA Today, nearly 20 players were on hand for a marathon bargaining session that included USA Hockey president Jim Smith, executive director Dave Ogrean, director of women’s hockey Reagan Carey and treasurer Donna Guariglia.

Players issued a press release noting that negotiations “will continue this week, with the goal of reaching an agreement that would allow the players to get to camp in time to train for and compete in the World Championships. Players are hopeful they will get to take the ice and represent their country.”

Positive ‘end game’

One of the reported bones of contention among women’s players is the amount of money poured into the Plymouth-based National Team Development Program (about $3.5 million annually) which trains and prepares boys players to compete on the national stage. By comparison, there is no similar program for girls players.

Fischer declined to comment on the record about whether the negotiations might ultimately lead to a leveling of that playing field.

“We’re all for fair and equitable treatment of all areas of USA Hockey, and that’s always been the way forward,” Fischer noted. “I’m not going to comment any further than that.”

Fischer did say “we just want to get to an end game that’s good for everyone.”

Players announced earlier this month for the team included Farmington’s Megan Keller, who plays defense. Keller is the lone player from Michigan on the original roster.

Other members of the squad include twins Monique Lamoureux-Morando, Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson, Hilary Knight, Alex Carpenter, Kendall Coyne and Megan Bozek.

Farmington's Megan Keller is one of the boycotting players.(Photo11: USA HOCKEY)

If a settlement is not reached, USA Hockey "will field a competitive and fun team to watch" with a deep pool of talent available to select players from, said Fischer in an interview last week.

But he emphasized then and reiterated Tuesday that USA Hockey remains a strong supporter of girls and women’s hockey. The organization claims the number of girls and women playing the sport have grown from 28,000 in 1998 to more than 73,000 this year.

“We’ve worked hard over the course of multiple decades in the development and growth of girls and women’s hockey,” he said.